Top prospects power up at camp

March 22nd, 2021

Dylan Carlson and Bobby Dalbec just keep slugging.

Baseball’s No. 13 overall prospect homered for the second straight game with the Cardinals, while the No. 93 overall prospect hit his sixth blast for the Red Sox on Monday.

Carlson drove in both of St. Louis’ runs, leading off the second with a dinger to right with an exit velocity of 105.3, then knocking an RBI single to left in the fourth. The Cardinals’ top prospect has been surging of late, including hitting his first spring homer on Saturday. In his last five games, Carlson is 6-for-12 with five RBIs and five runs scored after starting the campaign 4-for-22.

“Those are experiences he can draw from, and he will and has,” manager Mike Shildt said. “And he’s off to, the last couple days, doing a great job for us.”

Dalbec continues his stronghold as one of the top sluggers this spring. Boston’s No. 3 prospect drilled a solo shot to right, worked a pair of walks and scored two runs in the win over Tampa Bay.

With another strong game, Dalbec is tied with teammate Michael Chavis and the Dodgers’ Corey Seager for the Spring Training home run lead. The infielder also tops baseball with 13 runs while his 1.317 OPS ranks fourth.

More notable performances from top prospects on Monday:

Cristian Pache, OF, ATL (MLB No. 12)
Pache went 1-for-2 at the plate, but he made a big contribution in the field. In the second with Jake Cave at first for the Twins, Ryan Jeffers knocked a single to Pache. The center fielder saw Cave heading to third and threw a 93-mph laser to get the runner and end the inning. Pache has spent all 11 games this spring in center for the Braves as he battles for a starting job on Opening Day. More »

Michael Kopech, RHP, CWS (MLB No. 39)
Kopech lowered his Cactus League ERA to 1.69 with 1 1/3 scoreless innings. The 6-foot-3 hurler held the Giants to a pair of singles with two strikeouts as he threw 49 of his 85 pitches for strikes. Returning from Tommy John surgery and electing to sit out the 2020 season, Kopech is pitching for the first time since 2018. The top pitching prospect for the White Sox possess a four-pitch mix, which is highlighted by his 80-grade fastball. Gameday »

Brent Honeywell Jr., RHP, TB
After three and a half years of battling injuries and rehabbing from surgeries, Honeywell pitched in a game. The 2014 Draftee, best know for his 60-grade screwball, got the start, retiring the first batter he faced (Jarred Duran) on one pitch. Honeywell then allowed a walk and a single before a run scored on a forceout. The outing marked his first appearance in a non-intrasquad game since the 2017 Triple-A National Championship, when he pitched out of the bullpen for the eventual-champion Durham Bulls. More »

Bryan Abreu, RHP, HOU
Abreu made his third outing of the spring his best one yet. The Astros’ No. 14 prospect spun three perfect frames with four strikeouts. Abreu had allowed four runs (three earned) in 4 1/3 innings over his first two Grapefruit League games before getting into a groove against the Mets on Monday. More »

Nick Pratto, 1B, KC
The Royals' No. 9 prospect continued to feast on Cactus League pitching in his limited action this spring. Pratto again entered off the bench and made the most of his day, going 2-for-2 with his fourth home run of Spring Training, a solo shot to right field in the seventh. Kansas City's 2017 first-round pick is now slashing .360/.429/.960 over 25 at-bats in 20 games played for the spring. Gameday »

Miguel Amaya, C, CHC (MLB No. 89)
Amaya swatted his first home run of the spring on a solo shot to left-center in the top of the ninth inning as the Cubs fell to the Angels, 15-7. The blast was just the third hit of the spring for the third-ranked Cubs prospect and his first for extra bases. Gameday »